U.S. patent number 8,585,513 [Application Number 12/969,088] was granted by the patent office on 2013-11-19 for golf club head and method of manufacturing the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Wataru Ban. Invention is credited to Wataru Ban.
United States Patent |
8,585,513 |
Ban |
November 19, 2013 |
Golf club head and method of manufacturing the same
Abstract
A golf club head according to this invention has scorelines
formed in its face surface. A first plated layer is formed on at
least the face surface of a head base body before the scorelines
are formed in the face surface, the face surface is grooved to form
the scorelines in it, and a second plated layer is formed on the
face surface.
Inventors: |
Ban; Wataru (Chichibu,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ban; Wataru |
Chichibu |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo, JP)
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Family
ID: |
44151875 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/969,088 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20110151998 A1 |
Jun 23, 2011 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 18, 2009 [JP] |
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2009-287880 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/331;
473/342 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
53/047 (20130101); A63B 53/0445 (20200801); Y10T
29/49986 (20150115); A63B 53/0408 (20200801); A63B
53/042 (20200801); A63B 53/0416 (20200801); A63B
53/0425 (20200801); A63B 2209/023 (20130101); A63B
2209/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;473/324-350 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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02116389 |
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May 1990 |
|
JP |
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06114128 |
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Apr 1994 |
|
JP |
|
09206411 |
|
Aug 1997 |
|
JP |
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10-277185 |
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Oct 1998 |
|
JP |
|
2000014839 |
|
Jan 2000 |
|
JP |
|
2008-023178 |
|
Feb 2008 |
|
JP |
|
2010110425 |
|
May 2010 |
|
JP |
|
2011125541 |
|
Jun 2011 |
|
JP |
|
2011125542 |
|
Jun 2011 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
US. Office Action, dated Feb. 15, 2013, issued in co-pending U.S.
Appl. No. 12/969,105. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Hunter; Alvin
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf club head having scorelines formed in a face surface
thereof, wherein a first plated layer is formed on at least the
face surface of a head base body before the scorelines are formed
in the face surface, the face surface is grooved to form the
scorelines therein, a second plated layer is formed on the face
surface, and the face surface of the head base body is milled into
a flat surface before the first plated layer is formed.
2. The head according to claim 1, wherein the second plated layer
has a hardness lower than the first plated layer.
3. The head according to claim 1, wherein the second plated layer
is thinner than the first plated layer.
4. The head according to claim 1, wherein the first plated layer
includes a chromium-plated layer, and the second plated layer
includes a copper-plated layer.
5. A method of manufacturing a golf club head having scorelines
formed in a face surface thereof, said method comprising the steps
of: forming a first plated layer on at least the face surface of a
head base body before the scorelines are formed in the face
surface; grooving the face surface, on which the first plated layer
is formed, to form the scorelines therein; and forming a second
plated layer on the face surface, wherein the face surface of the
head base body is milled into a flat surface before the first
plated layer is formed.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second plated layer
has a hardness lower than the first plated layer.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second plated layer
is thinner than the first plated layer.
8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first plated layer
includes a chromium-plated layer, and the second plated layer
includes a copper-plated layer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head and a method of
manufacturing the same and, more particularly, to a golf club head
suitable as an iron type golf club head and a method of
manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An iron type golf club head has grooves called scorelines, which
are formed in its face surface. It is often the case that a plated
layer is formed on at least the face surface of the club head in
order to, for example, increase the hardness of the face surface
and improve its corrosion resistance and appearance.
In a conventional method of manufacturing an iron type golf club
head coated with a plated layer, at least the face surface of a
head base body before scorelines are formed in the face surface is
grooved to form the scorelines in it and is plated.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-23178 describes a golf club head
having cutting traces formed in its face surface by milling the
face surface (by cutting it using a milling machine).
As in the method described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
10-277185, when the face surface of a head base body is grooved to
form scorelines in it and is plated, the accuracy of the edges of
the scorelines, on which their groove side surfaces and the face
surface intersect with each other, deteriorates. That is, when the
face surface of a head base body is grooved to form scorelines in
it, the edges of the scorelines, on which their groove side
surfaces and the face surface intersect with each other, have an
ideal edge shape, but the edge accuracy deteriorates upon forming a
plated layer on the face surface in order to, for example, improve
its durability, because the plated layer has a certain
thickness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in order to solve the
above-mentioned problem, and has as its object to provide a golf
club head in which a plated layer is formed in its face surface and
which has a high accuracy of the edges of scorelines, on which
their groove side surfaces and the face surface intersect with each
other, and a method of manufacturing the same.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a golf club head having scorelines formed in a face surface
thereof, wherein a first plated layer is formed on at least the
face surface of a head base body before the scorelines are formed
in the face surface, the face surface is grooved to form the
scorelines therein, and a second plated layer is formed on the face
surface.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from
the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference
to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an iron type golf club head according to
an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 2A to 2C are sectional views of the face surface, which show
a method of forming scorelines in it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a golf club head 1 having a large number
of scorelines 3 formed in a face surface 2. A golf club is formed
by inserting a shaft into a hosel portion 4 provided on the golf
club head 1, and fixing it in position using an adhesive.
As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the golf club head 1 is manufactured by
forming a first plated layer 6 on at least the face surface 2 of a
head base body 5 made of an iron-based material or a metal material
such as aluminum or titanium, grooving the face surface 2 to form
the scorelines 3 in it, and forming a second plated layer 7 with a
hardness lower than the first plated layer 6 on the face surface 2.
The head base body 5 is a primary molded product before the plated
layers 6 and 7 and the scorelines 3 are formed on and in the face
surface 2.
The scorelines 3 preferably have an open-side groove width of 0.6
to 0.9 mm and a depth of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. Although the scorelines 3
have a trapezoidal cross-section and have an angle .theta. of about
45.degree. to 80.degree. that the face surface makes with their
groove side surfaces in this embodiment, they may be right-angled
grooves with an angle .theta.=90.degree.. Also, the scorelines 3
may have a roughly U-shaped or roughly semielliptical
cross-section.
The first plated layer 6 preferably includes one or two or more
layers plated with, for example, chromium, nickel, or hard
chromium, and preferably has a thickness (an overall thickness if
it includes a plurality of layers) of 5 to 60 .mu.m, and
especially, about 15 to 50 .mu.m. The first plated layer 6
preferably has a hardness of 500 to 1,200 Hv, and especially, about
800 to 1,000 Hv.
The second plated layer 7 preferably includes one or two or more
layers plated with copper, alumite, or zinc, and preferably has a
thickness (an overall thickness if it includes a plurality of
layers) of 5 to 60 .mu.m, and especially, about 15 to 50 .mu.m. The
second plated layer 7 preferably has a hardness of 100 to 450 Hv,
and especially, about 200 to 300 Hv. The thickness of the second
plated layer 7 preferably is 90% or less and, for example, about 20
to 80% that of the first plated layer 6.
The first plated layer 6 and second plated layer 7 may be formed by
either electroless plating or electrolytic plating. However,
electroless plating is more preferable than electrolytic plating
because in the former plated layers with uniform thicknesses can be
more easily formed. Preferable examples of electroless plating
include nickeline plating, nickel plating, and SIC composite
plating.
A golf club head 1 as mentioned above is preferably manufactured by
the following method.
First, a head base body 5 is manufactured by casting or forging.
The head base body 5 has nearly the same shape and size with the
golf club head 1, except that in the former scorelines 3 have not
yet been formed in it.
Next, the face surface of the head base body 5 is preferably milled
into a flat surface with a specific flatness. In this processing,
the face surface is preferably cut by a cutting machine while the
head base body 5 is fixed in position.
At least a face surface 2 of the head base body 5 is plated to form
a first plated layer 6 on it. The first plated layer 6 may be
provided only on the face surface 2 or provided not only on the
face surface 2 but also in other portions. The first plated layer 6
may be provided on, for example, the entire surface of the head
base body 5.
The face surface 2 is grooved to form scorelines 3 in it. The shape
of a cutting tool (end mill) for grooving is not particularly
limited, and may be, for example, a shape tapered at the same angle
as the angle .theta. of the side surfaces of the scorelines 3 shown
in FIG. 2B. Also, the cutting tool may have its lower half with a
shape tapered at the same angle as the angle .theta., and its upper
half with a shape tapered at a slope larger than the lower half
(that is, a shape in which the angle that the face surface 2 makes
with the upper half side surfaces is smaller than the angle
.theta.), so that the lower and upper halves are smoothly
continuous with each other at their boundary portion. By grooving
the face surface 2 using this cutting tool such that the boundary
portion of the cutting tool is flush with the surface of the first
plated layer 6, edges (to be also referred to as the edges of the
scorelines hereinafter) E of the scorelines 3, on which their
groove side surfaces and the face surface 2 intersect with each
other, can be formed into a shape conforming to that boundary
portion. In addition, the edges E may be burred as needed after the
scorelines 3 are formed.
Lastly, a second plated layer 7 is formed. The second plated layer
7 may be provided only on the face surface 2 or provided not only
on the face surface 2 but also in other portions. The second plated
layer 7 may be provided on, for example, the entire surface of the
head base body 5. After that, the face surface 2 is blasted as
needed and frosted. Although the face surface 2 is preferably
blasted only in a scoreline forming region S shown in FIG. 1 to
visually indicate the player the ball hitting surface, the entire
face surface 2 or the entire head may be blasted. With this
processing, the friction coefficient of the face surface 2 is
expected to increase. The second plated layer 7 is preferably
blasted to a slight degree so as not to expose the first plated
layer 6. Also, the second plated layer 7 is preferably blasted such
that the blasted second plated layer 7 has a thickness that falls
within the above-mentioned preferable range. Examples of the
blasting include sandblasting and shot blasting.
The golf club head 1 is manufactured by the foregoing processes,
but the above-mentioned blasting may be omitted. Also, a process of
milling the head base body 5 may be added to the foregoing
processes.
In the milling, the face surface is shallowly cut using, for
example, a milling machine to form a large number of minute
recessed streaks (grooves) in it. With this processing, the
friction coefficient of the face surface increases, and this
facilitates a back spin. The pitch of the cutting traces produced
by the milling preferably is about 0.1 to 1 mm. Even if the milling
takes place, the first plated layer 6 and second plated layer 7
formed on the face surface 2 preferably have the above-mentioned
thicknesses. When the milling height is set to 25 .mu.m that is the
upper limit of a golf rule, the plated layers 6 and 7 preferably
have a total thickness of 10 to 120 .mu.m. The milling pattern may
be formed by a laser.
Instead of milling the head base body 5 in the foregoing way, the
face surface 2 may be milled after the first plated layer 6 and
second plated layer 7 are formed on the head base body 5. In this
case, the face surface 2 is preferably milled such that the grooves
do not reach the head base body 5. This prevents the head base body
5 from being exposed and rusting. The face surface 2 may be milled
such that the grooves reach or do not reach the first plated layer
6. A golf rule stipulates that the milling height (the depth of the
streaks) must be 25 .mu.m or less, so the plated layers 6 and 7
preferably have a total thickness of 25 .mu.m or more, and
especially, 28 .mu.m or more.
Alternatively, the face surface 2 may be milled during the time
after the first plated layer 6 is formed on the head base body 5
and before the second plated layer 7 is formed.
In the golf club head 1 according to this embodiment, the first
plated layer 6 is formed on the face surface 2 of the head base
body 5, the face surface 2 is grooved to form the scorelines 3 in
it, and the thin second plated layer 7 with a low hardness is
formed. In this case, the plated layer formed after the scorelines
3 are formed is thinner than that when both the first plated layer
6 and second plated layer 7 are formed after the scorelines 3 are
formed. Thus, the edges E of the scorelines 3 are formed by
grooving the face surface 2 with high precision, and are covered
with the second plated layer 7, thereby preventing the shape of the
edges E from changing to a considerable degree. As a result, the
edges E of the scorelines 3 have a high accuracy.
The edges E of the above-mentioned scorelines may be angled edges
or non-angled round edges. The round edges preferably have an
effective radius of 0.05 mm to 0.3 m, and especially, 0.1 mm to 0.2
mm. Thus, the golf club head 1 becomes less likely to damage a golf
ball, and allows the player to produce an appropriate back
spin.
Also, because the second plated layer 7 with a low hardness is
provided on the top surface, the golf club head 1 gives the player
a soft impact feel. Because the second plated layer 7 is formed up
to the scorelines 3, the head base body 5 is not exposed in the
scorelines 3. This prevents the head base body 5 from rusting due
to, for example, rainwater or agricultural chemicals sprayed onto
the green. This also makes the face surface 2 and scorelines 3 have
the same color tone, so the golf club head 1 becomes excellent in
appearance.
When the face surface 2 of the head base body 5 is milled into a
flat surface before the first plated layer 6 is formed, the surface
accuracy of the face surface 2 becomes high.
The second plated layer 7 may be formed in a face surface portion
(including the edges E of the scorelines 3) other than the
scorelines 3 upon masking them.
Although the golf club head 1 is of the iron type in this
embodiment, the present invention is also applicable to a hybrid
golf club head having its face surface made of a metal material and
its remaining part at least partially made of, for example, carbon,
a synthetic resin, a fiber-reinforced synthetic resin, or
ceramics.
In this embodiment, one or two or more second plated layers 7 may
be provided, like the first plated layer 6. However, only one
second plated layer 7 is preferably provided in order to obtain a
high dimensional accuracy of the edges E of the scorelines 3.
Although only the plated layers 6 and 7 are formed on the head base
body 5 in this embodiment, another layer may be formed in at least
one of the region between the head base body 5 and the first plated
layer 6, that between the first plated layer 6 and the second
plated layer 7, and that on the upper surface of the second plated
layer 7. For example, the surface of the head base body 5 may be
carburized or nitrided to form a hard layer on it. Also, a layer
such as a carbon layer (for example, a diamond-like carbon layer)
may be formed in at least one of the region between the head base
body 5 and the first plated layer 6, that between the first plated
layer 6 and the second plated layer 7, and that on the upper
surface of the second plated layer 7.
While the present invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of
the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures
and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application
No. 2009-287880, filed Dec. 18, 2009, which is hereby incorporated
by reference herein in its entirety.
* * * * *